Neighborhood Unsung Hero Award

About the Award
This award recognizes the volunteer contributions made by an individual who has given outstanding service to his or her neighborhood. The unsung neighborhood hero should reside within the neighborhood organization boundaries but may or may not be an active member in the organization. This individual is one who repeatedly volunteers to actively improve and/or positively affect the lives and living conditions of individuals in their neighborhood. We are looking for an unsung neighborhood hero who can be counted on to voluntarily address one or more specific neighborhood concerns, and/or has proactively demonstrated initiative to address neighborhood issues by creating their own volunteer activities to address these issues.

Eligibility RequirementsAny resident-led, resident-controlled city neighborhood organization recognized by the RNA and Office of Neighborhood Services is eligible to apply or be nominated for these awards. This includes neighborhood associations, homeowner associations, neighborhood watch groups and tenant associations.

Nominators may nominate themselves, individuals residing in their neighborhood, individuals residing in a neighborhood different from their own for their efforts to improve the quality of living in Roanoke.

The project or activity must have been carried out during the current fiscal year (June 30, 2015– July 1, 2016) or calendar year.

A Nomination Form must be completed and submitted by the October 14, 2016 deadline.

There is no limit to the number of nominations that can be submitted by any one individual or group.Activities or contributions for which the person is nominated must not be performed as an element of paid employment.

Contributions to the neighborhood may have occurred over the course of many years but the judges will give special consideration to recent activities.

Nominations may include yourself, a family, family member, friend, or neighbor who makes noteworthy contributions to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.

The nominee may also be an individual from a neighborhood different than where the nominator resides.

Complete and submit an easy Online Neighborhood Award Nomination Form accompanied by description detailing the nominee's activities or contributions to a neighborhood or organization and why he or she should receive the Award.

A Neighborhood Award Nomination Form can also be downloaded, completed, and either scanned and emailed or mailed with a postmark by the October 14, 2016 deadline to the Office of Neighborhood Services, Attn: RNA Neighborhood Awards Committee, 215 Church Ave SW, Room 312 North, Roanoke, VA 24011.

Include documentation such as pamphlets, website links, articles, samples, presentations, photographs, news clippings, letters of support, etc. supporting the impact and accomplishments achieved by the nominee.

There is no limit to the number of nominations you can submit.

If you are hand writing your nomination description, it be should typed or printed legibly on not more than 2 pages of 8½ inch x 11 inch paper with the name of the nominee written in the upper left corner of each page.

Activity Performed - Creative and innovative activity/activities used to benefit their neighborhood: 30 points

Level of Commitment - The amount of time or resources the individual committed to proactively address one or more specific neighborhood concerns, and/or address neighborhood issues by creating their own volunteer activities to address them: 25 points

Length of Commitment - How long the individual has repeatedly volunteered to actively improve and/or positively affect the lives and living conditions of individuals in their neighborhood - formally or informally: 25 points

Overall Effect - The level of impact produced by the individual on the neighborhood and/or community at large: 30 points